Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Cruisin’ down the interstate
Had a lot on my mind
It was a partly cloudy day
On the Texas countryside
I pulled the visor down
And took a long deep breath
I was moving without a sound
And the sun began to set
An old man told me careful son
You shouldn’t travel there
If you take highway 20 son
You’ll go without a prayer
But I’m a travelin’ fool sometimes
Have no time to listen
Have no time to look for signs
When I’m on a homeward mission
So I settled in for a long ride
Didn’t think about his words
Was I looking for a place to hide?
The world was on my nerves
An old man told me careful son
You shouldn’t travel there
If you take highway 20 son
You’ll go without a prayer
Suddenly I saw objects fly
I was on a battlefield
A car shed a tire while going by
It headed for the windshield
The crash was staggering
It all felt so surreal
Glass was shattering,
Blood spattered on the wheel
An old man told me careful son
You shouldn’t travel there
If you take highway 20 son
You’ll go without a prayer
Before the dust settled the cops arrived
And put me in the back of their car
Weed in my pocket I was feelin’ alive
And we didn’t have to go too far
Now I’m saddled up on a bus
Headed home where I belong
Not much left I could discuss
Besides being oh so wrong
Life can change on a dime my friend
So listen to an old man’s caution
Don’t tempt fate or the highway’s end
You’ll wind up in a coffin
Don’t travel highway 20 son
Cuz you won’t pass the test
Stay off highway 20 son
She’ll burn you like the rest
2023 © Miriam Shanks. All Right Reserved.
